In the introductory address, National Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic pointed out that the Republic of Serbia is committed to the fight against corruption, at all levels, and in that fight, the role of the parliament and each individual MP occupies an important place.

On the occasion, Dacic said that that is why GOPAC has an extremely important place in the anti-corruption structure and its role in that sense is extremely important.

"As an organisation operating in 50 countries, in all regions of the world, GOPAC justifies its role as an important promoter of anti-corruption policies", said Dacic, adding that GOPAC is a unique international network of parliamentarians gathered around one specific goal, which deserves to be used even more to make our fight against corruption even more effective.

Towards the end of his address, Dacic thanked the UNDP and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for supporting this parliamentary activity, especially their representatives attending today’s constituting meeting of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption.

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Dr Vladimir Orlic also addressed the attending congratulating the GOPAC Group for getting organised in this National Assembly legislature as well. He said that there is practically no important policy implemented at the state level, without being supported and endorsed by the National Assembly. "Fight against corruption is one of the most important topics today, where an essential difference is made in what the state used to be like and what it is like today, approaching the political vision followed by the great majority in our society. It is a vision of a successful country, a satisfied people, a country that has shown that it can compete with the big powers and win on fronts where such a thing was unthinkable, and that means an orderly system, rule of law and clear regulations, i.e. zero tolerance for corruption." He added that in 2013, at almost the same time when the informal GOPAC group was formed in Serbia for the first time, Aleksandar Vucic announced on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia that the state would dedicate itself in the most serious way to the fight against corruption, which is when the important activities in this field began and when it became obvious that there are essentially no untouchables, and then the state began to change fundamentally. He also said that today, it is very clear that the issue of combating corruption and crime is an inalienable part of the basic pillars of the state policy proclaimed by the President, and supported and implemented by the Government and the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The Deputy Speaker pointed out that these pillars form the path of Serbia’s European integration and the rule of law. "We essentially understand that there can be no rule of law if we in the state are not ready to deal with the issue of corruption according to the letter of the law." He further explained that one of the essential points, i.e. six main pillars of state policy and economy, is economic growth and development and new investments. "The fact that Serbia is today the most successful country in this part of Europe in attracting foreign investments is clear proof that we have established the rule of law. Investors from developed countries do not come to places where there is no rule of law, and today they are coming to Serbia like never before. Even now, in the most difficult of times, we have fantastic investments that have already been announced by President Aleksandar Vucic." At the end of his address, Orlic wished the audience successful work within GOPAC and expressed confidence that the organisation will be successful in its activities and will be a source of pride for the National Assembly.

Dragan Sikimic, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, highlighted the successful cooperation with the GOPAC Serbia National Branch in the previous National Assembly legislature and reminded the attending of the successful meeting with Dubravka Filipovski and the MPs concerning the implementation of the Law on Lobbying and meeting the recommendations of the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption GRECO which include preventing corruption relating to MPs, judges and prosecutors. The recent adoption of the Code of Conduct for MPs is especially important in that context, said Sikimic who had, as the head of the Republic of Serbia delegation to GRECO, informed the GRECO Secretariat and sent it the English translation of the Code.

He also highlighted the excellent constructive cooperation with the National Assembly, to which the Anti-Corruption Agency submits an annual activity report.

He added that the Anti-Corruption Agency had, in cooperation with the National Assembly and the State Audit Institution, recently drafted a joint contribution of the Republic of Serbia for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s Working Group on the Prevention of Corruption, scheduled to meet in June, to discuss, among other things, the role of legislative bodies in implementing and advancing the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption.

UNDP Serbia Portfolio Manager Drazen Maravic was next to address the assembly, pointing out the Parliament’s contribution to the fight against corruption, primarily in terms of attracting investors. Corruption hinders all segments of social development, which the composition of the current legislature’s GOPAC speaks volumes of. It is very important that this network consists of members of parliamentary committees in charge of various fields.

UNDP is a useful partner and leader in terms of skills, one that shows how a good ecosystem of equality can evolve. UNDP provides support for the development of good governance, the rule of law, fight against poverty, as well as support to citizens eager to participate in public affairs.

UNDP supports all anti-corruption bodies. The Parliament participates in preventing corruption in many ways, through the work of parliamentary committees, as well as through the work of GOPAC as a good instrument of action.

Drazen Marovic also spoke of the importance of the budget portal which enables MPs and the general public to always have transparent information regarding the spending of public finances. He pointed out that UNDP is ready to continue with the investment into and development of this portal, with the support of the National Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the competent committees.

In the previous period, the GOPAC network both initiated and contributed to many public debates on important topics in the fight against corruption, such as the Law on Lobbying and its adoption, review of reports of independent bodies, as well as monitoring and fulfilling GRECO recommendations for Serbia. "We will continue to support and endorse the work of the Parliament and GOPAC network," Maravic said.

The former GOPAC Chairperson Dubravka Filipovski informed the attending about the activities and results of the GOPAC Serbia National Branch. Filipovski pointed out that GOPAC is unique in that it is the only parliamentary network that provides support to MPs in the fight against corruption. She also emphasised that by once accepting membership in the organisation, that status is never lost, even with the termination of one’s mandate. GOPAC provides its members with support in the promotion and implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, in the prevention of money laundering, supervision of public finances, establishment of ethics and rules of conduct for MPs and in society’s involvement in the prevention of corruption.

Filipovski said that the goal of the GOPAC Serbia National Branch is to promote transparency and accountability so as to ensure high standards and integrity of the institutions and society, as well as the National Assembly’s zero tolerance for corruption, through the laws it adopts.

"You all know that a strong parliament and strong institutions are the cornerstone of anti-corruption efforts. Serbia has recognised the fight against corruption, we are fighting against it systematically, which means that all the institutions in the society are participating in that fight," Filipovski stressed. She pointed out that GOPAC had actively participated in the adoption of a number of anti-corruption laws, adding that one of its important results is also the introduction of the Public Finance Supervision Portal. She spoke about the successful cooperation with UNDP and Transparency Serbia, adding that she hopes for cooperation with the civil sector, through partnership and mutual respect.

In the continuation, Dubravka Filipovski was elected Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption Serbia, Jahja Ferhatovic was elected Deputy Chairman of the GOPAC EB, and Elvira Kovacs was elected Secretary of the GOPAC EB. The elected MPs then addressed the assembly, and Dubravka Filipovski presented the GOPAC Serbia National Branch 2021-2022 Activity Programme Proposal.